Hydraulics of woody plants

Eisenach, Cornelia; Meinzer, Frederick C.

doi:10.1111/pce.13715

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

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“…Conversely, reduced NSC availability could also limit the capacity of retaining water in cells (Sapes et al, 2019; Sevanto et al, 2014). Despite the possible interrelationship between the water and carbon economies (Eisenach & Meinzer, 2020; McDowell et al, 2022; Tomasella et al, 2019a), it remains unclear how traits of water relations (including plant water potential, water content and water transport mainly expressed as percentage loss of hydraulic conductivity–PLC) are coupled with NSC during drought stress, as it approaches levels generating tree mortality.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Root relative water content is a potential signal for impending mortality of a subtropical conifer during extreme drought stress

Duan

Shao

et al. 2023

Plant Cell & Environment

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Adaptation to future climates characterized by more frequent severe droughts requires enhanced mechanistic understanding of tree mortality. However, our knowledge of the physiological limits to withstand extreme drought, and how the coordination between water and carbon traits enhances survival, is still limited. Potted seedlings of Pinus massoniana were dehydrated to three target droughts (percentage loss of stem hydraulic conductivity of ca. 50%, 85%, and 100%; PLC50, PLC85 and PLC100) and then relieved from these target droughts by fully rewatering. Predawn and midday water potentials (Ψ), relative water content (RWC), PLC and nonstructural carbohydrates (NSC) were monitored. During drought, Ψ and RWC declined as PLC increased. Root RWC declined more rapidly than other organ RWCs, particularly after PLC50 stress. All organ NSC concentrations were above predrought values. During rewatering, water trait recovery declined as drought increased, with no mortality at PLC50 but 75% mortality at PLC85. The observed stem hydraulic recovery at PLC50 following rewatering was not correlated to NSC dynamics. Collectively, our results highlighted the primary role of hydraulic failure in Pinus massoniana seedling mortality by assessing mortality threshold and links among water status and water supply. Root RWC can be considered as a potential warning signal of P. massoniana mortality.

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